I want to raise again the fact the people of south Tipperary have no consultant ophthalmology service. There has been no eye service for almost two years now. The HSE has failed in its duty to provide that vital service. We have no consultant-led service, no optometry clinics and no nurse-led clinics. As a result there is a huge backlog of 3,000 people, with hundreds of children who have never been seen. There are hundreds of people with glaucoma who either have never been seen or need follow-up and some may be facing blindness. I know the ophthalmology department at the county clinic in Clomnel has been reallocated to other services, so what is going on? Is there a plan to downgrade or transfer the services out of south Tipperary? When will we have and see a consultant-staffed service in operation again in the county, please?

I thank Deputy Healy and acknowledge this is not the first time he has raised it in this House. It does seem to have been going on for a very long time. Truthfully, I do not know the factual reason, whether it is regarding an inability to recruit or not. I know it often can be. The Deputy also raised the issue in relation to the transfer of services. On foot of him raising it again, I will ask that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, interact with him directly on this matter.